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Werner adding pitching depth for A's

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PHOENIX -- The A's got their first look at one of the many goods they acquired this winter on Monday, when southpaw Andrew Werner took to the mound for two innings of work.

Facing the Indians, Werner looked shaky from the start, walking leadoff man Michael Bourn on four pitches. But he settled down nicely and escaped the inning having allowed just one unearned run before pitching a perfect second frame with a strikeout.

"I was erratic in the bullpen and erratic with the first hitter so I just tried to calm down a little bit," said Werner. "My body felt good, though. My stuff was just a little out of whack. But it being the first game of Spring Training you kind of expect it to be like that."

The A's have plenty time to see more of the 26-year-old Werner, brought to Oakland with infielder Andy Parrino from the Padres in exchange for right-hander Tyson Ross and Minor Leaguer A.J. Kirby-Jones last November.

Werner began his professional season just four years ago, when he pitched in the independent Frontier League. Then, following the 2010 season, he signed with the Padres organization and went 12-10 with a 3.46 ERA in 47 starts over the next two years in their farm system.

The club doesn't currently have room for Werner in its rotation, no matter how well he performs over the next few weeks. Still, the lefty wants to leave a good impression, since an injury or two at the big league level this season could prompt the A's to beckon for some of their depth in the Minors.

Werner, who compiled a 5.58 ERA in eight starts for the Padres last season, will be willing and ready to help when that time comes.

"I just approach this like I would anything else, trying to go out there and throw up zeroes, make it hard on the coaching staff," he said. "I understand we won the AL West last year, so you can't really expect to just come in and have a spot. You have to come in and compete for it, but that's good, because I think that brings out the best in you."